Stair-mat.



,I No. 755.507.` PATBNTED APR. 5, 1904.

o. KNOPF.

STAIR MAT.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. a, 190s.

N0 MODEL.

FLL-:r El

UNITED STATES Patented 4April 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,507, datedAprl 5,51904.y

Application led September 8, 1903. Serial N0' 172,291. (No model.)`- I i To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CARLIKVNOPF, a citizen of Germany, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have Vinvented certain new and`useful"Im'- provements in Stair-Mats, ofwhich the fol"- lowing is a speciiication. y

My invention relates to stair-mats; and it consists in a removable step-cover belonging to that special variety of' mats comprising a wooden or iron base or grid having bodies of" india-rubber embedded or in some manner held therein.' Certain of these mats are constructed openlyin order that the dirt from the shoes of' the users may drop through upon any surface beneath, and others are formed with a flat plate-base Without openings. My invention falls particularly in the class With the first-mentioned construction.

The object of my invention is to provide a mat of' special and peculiar construction rendering it generally more eiiective and useful in accomplishing the purpose common to all stair-mats of this character, which is to prevent the feet from slipping on the stairs in Wet or icy Weather.

I attain the stated object by employing parts formed and associated asillustrated inthe ac- 1 companying drawings, of which#- Figure l is a top plan view. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line m ofl Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is an end view of my invention and shows one method 'of' securing it on a step. Fig. 4 represents a modified form of my invention constructed to lit in a frame which is adapted to be pivoted upon the stair or ioor as indicated.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several views.

The first longitudinal'strip or slat lying at the edge of the step is marked A. It is somewhat heavier than the remaining slats or bars and is provided with a relatively sharp edge B, running lengthwise, as shown at the front of the step. The purpose of the edge B is to assist in catching the soles of' the foot-covering of the passers and preventing slipping. The slat A extends from end to end of the mat,- and the rubber foothold() is'coextensive with it. At the' back of the mat theslatD is alsomade relatively heavierwand'is provided with one or more eyes d, (see Fig. 2,) and a rod E, passing through corresponding eyes F on the stairs and through theeye's'pivotally secures the mat upon the step, and as the dirt falls through the slats upon the stairs the mat may be raised by its front edge and the surfaceV under it cleaned. The mat is thus secure "against displacement when the stairs are being hurriedly swept.` `There may be any desired number of veye'sfcland F. Intermediate slats Gr are constructed alike. They are interrupted at intervals by cross-pieces or reinforce-bars H. All slats have the dovetail groove J, and all the rubber strips or footholds are correspondingly formed at the bot tom. The rubbers are inserted in the grooves by compressing them, and they then expand and ll the groove, practically holding themselves in place. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the rubber strips (marked C) extend the Whole length of the mat-that is to say, the rubber strips C are about as long as the step is Wide. The intermediate slats Gr merge into and are formed integrally with cross-pieces H, making the metal grid or base of my invention all of one piece. l

Fig. I illustrates a modified form of my invention adapted to be placed in a rectangular frame K. rI`he frame in this modification is lprovided with the eyes d, as in the case of rear slat D, and may bein like manner pivoted to the step, or the eyes can be omitted and the mat in its frame K. used as a door-mat. In the modified formtheslat A is recessed to afford a shoulder a, .which iits upon the upper edge of the frame K, as drawn. In all other respects the slat A possesses the same structure as before. Instead of the rear slat D, as

in the form of my invention first herein described, the modification has two recessed slats A, arranged front and rear and each of course equipped with the rubber footholds C. The intermediate slats G and cross-pieces H undergo no change.

I am aware that dovetail grooves in the slats and correspondingly-shaped rubber strips held in the groove by their own elasticity are not new, and I do not claim those features broadly.l

1at the ends and at intermediate intervals, all

said slats vbeing grooved lengthwise and said cross-pieces transversely, the said grooves extending the entire length of said mat, and the rubber strips C secured in the said grooves andequaling the mat in length, substantially as described.

2. In a stair-mat, the combination of the metal slat'A extending the length of the mat and having the edge B, additional metal slats extending lengthwise of the mat and parallel with said slat A, the cross-pieces H formed integrally with said slats and reinforcing them at the ends and at intermediate intervals, all said slats being grooved lengthwise and said cross-pieces transversely, the said grooves extending the entire length of said mat, means B and shoulders a, intermediate metal slats extending lengthwise of the mat and parallel with the said slats A, the cross-pieces H formed integrally with the said slats and reinforcing them at the ends and at intermediate intervals, all said slats being grooved lengthwise and said cross-pieces transversely, the said grooves extending the entire ylength of said mat, the rubber strips C secured in the said grooves and equaling the mat in length, the frame K engaging the shoulders a of said slats A and supporting the mat, and means for pivotally securing said frame upon a step, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` CARL K'NOPF. Witnesses:

WILLIAM HUMBERT, CHARLES H. COUDER. 

